Climate change takes its toll on Tien Giang dykes

As many as 150 landslide-prone areas threaten a stretch of the dyke system in four districts of the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta's Tien Giang Province.

Nearly 40 of the locations covering a length of 2.6km are said to be in serious danger.


Nguyen Thien Phap, head of the province's Irrigation, Storm and Flood Prevention and Control Department, said it would cost about VND16 billion (US$752,000) to repair and reinforce the trouble spots.

The extra rain and tidal heights caused by climate change together with rapid socio-economic development are partly to blame for the situation, he added.

Phap said the dyke in question was built too close to the river bank, which meant it was being quickly eroded in the flood season.

He said householders who lived near danger areas had been removed to safe places, adding that despite efforts, the situation was not fully under control.

According to Phap, the province has spent nearly VND86 billion ($4 million) in an attempt to remove 248 landslide-prone spots since 2005.